Cavalry FC’s historic Concacaf Champions Cup run has come to a halt.
Pumas UNAM scored two second half goals with Cavalry FC down a man to take the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup fixture by a 2-0 count Thursday night at Mexico City’s Estadio Olímpico Universitario to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
"We're frustrated that we weren't able to hang on," Cavalry FC goalkeeper Marco Carducci told OneSoccer post-match. "It was a difficult game, the circumstances went against us a lot of the time throughout a lot of the match, but we showed our character, we kept fighting until the very end.
"I'm proud of the team."
Pumas made eight changes from the first leg while Cavalry, as expected, fielded the same starting 11 with striker Tobias Warschewski leading the line a 4-2-3-1 formation.
In the 15th minute, Cavalry midfielder Charlie Trafford was initially handed a red card for a high tackle, one that looked like he couldn’t avoid, which was pulled back to a yellow card with video assistant referee (VAR) determining an incorrect call.
VAR was involved again in first half stoppage time with a tackle in the box by Jay Herdman prompting a penalty kick and a red card after review.
Enter Carducci with the Cavalry goalkeeper stepping up to deny Pumas forward Ignacio Pussetto’s attempt.
Facing the prospects of 45 minutes down a man, Cavalry had work to do in the second half.
The hosts broke the deadlock eight minutes into the half when Pumas’ towering striker Guillermo Martínez found room in the box for a well taken header to bring the tie to 2-2 on aggregate, with the Liga MX side having the edge in away goals.
Martinez completed the brace in the 73rd minute on a low strike from distance.
The Cavs came close to forcing the game past regulation with winger Ali Musse slipping through for a chance on a partial break in stoppage time, but the Liga MX side defended well in the final minutes to secure the tie.
"Playing with 10 men after 45 minutes is difficult and I haven't had the chance to watch the (sending off) back," Carducci said. "It was always going to be hard coming here, we knew that and I think we put out a very good effort to make it very close. One goal at the end and we would have went to extra time."
Pumas Is through to the Round of 16 to take on Costa Rica’s Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.
Cavalry FC took the first leg of the fixture seven days prior in a historic 2-1 triumph at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C. with second half tallies from Trafford and Warschewski the difference.
The victory marked the first time a Canadian Premier League team has won a game in the history of the Cup and first time a CPL squad defeated a Liga MX side.
Toronto FC’s 2018 side is the only Canadian team to ever win a game in Mexico in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Cavalry FC, the defending CPL champions, kick off the 2025 regular season in April.
For more information, go to cavsfc.com.
